Abstract: An aquatic organism removal system includes a screen system and a return system. The screen system is adapted to separate aquatic organisms from cooling water entering a cooling water intake of a power producing facility and includes a screen intake and a screen exit downstream of the screen intake. The return system is connected to the screen exit and is adapted to receive the aquatic organisms and transfer the aquatic organisms safely to a source waterbody. When the cooling water and aquatic organisms enter the screen intake, the cooling water flows through the screen system and into the cooling water intake of a power producing facility and the aquatic organisms flow out the screen exit and into the return system.